Football players are bigger, faster, and stronger than ever. And the evolution of a faster style on the field has transformed all levels of football off-season training. No longer is the off-season only for adding slabs of muscle. It’s also time to increase athleticism, power, and football-specific movements.

Here is a training plan to get you started. You can develop explosive power, agility, and breakneck speed to impress scouts and coaches—and to be the best you can be on the gridiron next fall.

Football Off-Season Training Program

The program consists of four one-week mesocycles, each emphasizing a specific skill.

• Week 1: Power and speed focus, moderate intensity, moderate volume
• Week 2: Power focus, moderate-to-high intensity, low volume
• Week 3: Recovery and hypertrophy focus, moderate-to-low intensity, high volume
• Week 4: Max strength focus, high intensity, moderate volume

Week 1: Power and Speed

Goal: Increase top speed and power with strength exercises and sprint work.

Overview: Perform speed work and unloaded plyometrics first in the workout. This is important for maximum performance gains.

Week 2: Power

Goal: Increase power production with speed-strength methods. Heavy Olympic lifts, weighted jumps and throws are emphasized.

Overview: Perform low-volume speed work first, followed by conservatively loaded plyometric exercises for power development. Follow Olympic lifts with compound strength exercises with little assistance work.

Week 3: Recovery and Hypertrophy

Goal: Increase volume and decrease intensity to allow for nervous system recovery, promote lean muscle gains and prepare for a heavy week ahead.

Overview: Perform low-intensity, high-volume speed work first, promoting conditioning. Use low-volume and low-intensity explosive movements to groove movement patterns without overloading the body. Strength work is low intensity, with workloads less than 65 percent. The emphasis is on higher volume to grow muscle.

Week 4: Maximum Strength

Goal: Add weight to the bar and increase strength levels.

Overview: High-intensity, low-volume plyometric and speed work primes the body for all-out strength work. Strength work is high intensity, with multiple sets over 85% 1RM to increase maximum strength. Overall workout volume is decreased.

Considerations and progression

Tailor your workouts to your abilities. Never compromise technique for big weights, especially if you are a young athlete. Reinforce abdominal bracing, joint stacking and proper posture in all exercises.

Off-season workouts should develop proper mechanics and reduce your risk of injury. Athletes involved in other sports should decrease training volume and speed/explosive work to avoid overtraining and promote recovery.